Multipoint digital simultaneous voice and data system

Abstract

A multipoint digital simultaneous voice and data (DSVD) conferencing system includes a plurality of local DSVD modems to communicate with a plurality of remote DSVD modems and a bridge to transfer data and digitized voice signals among the plurality of remote DSVD modems by way of the plurality of local DSVD modems. A plurality of simultaneous conferencing connections are maintained between the plurality of local DSVD modems and the plurality of remote DSVD modems. The system support a multipoint DSVD conferencing session connecting the plurality of remote DSVD modems.

I claim:  
     
       1. A multipoint digital simultaneous voice and data (DSVD) conferencing system, comprising: 
       a means for opening a multipoint DSVD conferencing session connecting a plurality of DSVD modems; and  
       a means for transferring data and digitized voice signals among the plurality of DSVD modems during the multipoint DSVD conferencing session independent of a commonly shared data application.  
     
     
       2. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DSVD modems comprise one or more remote DSVD modems. 
     
     
       3. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the multipoint DSVD conferencing session comprises a plurality of simultaneous conferencing connections between one or more local DSVD modems and the one or more remote DSVD modems. 
     
     
       4. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the data and digitized voice signals are shared among the one or more DSVD remote modems by way of one or more local DSVD modems. 
     
     
       5. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 1 , the means for transferring data and digitized voice signals comprising: 
       a means for decoding the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       6. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 1 , the means for transferring data and the digitized voice signals comprising: 
       a means for summing the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       7. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 1 , the means for transferring data and digitized voice signals comprising: 
       a means for compressing and decompressing the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       8. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a means for multiplexing and demultiplexing data and digitized voice signals for a DSVD modem of the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       9. A method of multipoint digital simultaneous voice and data (DSVD) conferencing, comprising the steps of: 
       opening a multipoint DSVD conferencing session connecting a plurality of DSVD modems; and  
       transferring data and digitized voice signals among the plurality of DSVD modems during the multipoint DSVD conferencing session independent of a commonly shared data application.  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of DSVD modems comprise one or more remote DSVD modems. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the multipoint DSVD conferencing session comprises a plurality of simultaneous conferencing connections between one or more local DSVD modems and the one or more remote DSVD modems. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data and digitized voice signals are shared among the one or more remote DSVD modems by way of one or more local DSVD modems. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , the step of transferring data and digitized voice signals comprising the step of: 
       decoding the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , the step of transferring data and digitized voice signals comprising the step of: 
       summing the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , the step of transferring data and digitized voice signals comprising the step of: 
       compressing and decompressing the digitized voice signals for the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
       multiplexing and demultiplexing data and digitized voice signals for a DSVD modem of the plurality of DSVD modems.  
     
     
       17. A multipoint digital simultaneous voice and data (DSVD) conferencing system, comprising: 
       a plurality of local DSVD modems to communicate with a plurality of remote DSVD modems; and  
       a bridge to transfer data and digitized voice signals among the plurality of remote DSVD modems by way of the plurality of local DSVD modems independent of a commonly shared data application.  
     
     
       18. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 17 , wherein the number of the plurality of local DSVD modems is equal to the number of the plurality of remote DSVD modems. 
     
     
       19. The multipoint DSVD conferencing system of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of simultaneous conference connections are maintained between the plurality of local DSVD modems and the plurality of remote DSVD modems.